Avances clínicos para el tratamiento en la patología cardiovascular

Abstract

Medicine is a rapidly evolving science and is based, in the Western world, on the so-called "scientific evidence", so that only drugs and techniques that demonstrate statistically significant efficacy and safety are used. Cardiology is a medical specialty in which the pressure for the development of new drugs and procedures is especially strong, given that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the world, and new advances in this field affect a large part of the general population (McMurray JJ, 1998). In addition, in cardiology there are several subspecialties, which represent the most advanced level of knowledge in that specific part of cardiovascular pathologies. These cardiological subspecialties are usually: clinical cardiology, which focuses its efforts on the patient, as the central piece of all medical acts, and also seeks to strengthen the bridges of union with Primary Care so that the continuity of care favors their quality of life and life expectancy; hemodynamics and interventional cardiology, whose professionals are dedicated or have an interest in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, using endovascular approach techniques by catheter; arrhythmology has a special interest and involvement with rhythm and cardiac arrhythmias; finally, the heart failure section deals with cardiovascular health in the field of heart failure. This doctoral thesis is part of a research project that analyzes the effects of the latest techniques and the latest drugs on cardiac outcomes such as reduction of events, survival, improvement of quality of life. This has required analyzing different cardiological techniques and administering different drugs. The research projects that have served as the basis for developing this doctoral thesis have been approved by the Coordinating Committee of Ethics of Biomedical Research of Andalusia, Spain, and registered with the support of the Andalusian Beturia Foundation for Health Research (FABIS). For this project, a collaboration was established between the University of Huelva and the three hospitals in the province of Huelva, the Juan Ramón Jiménez University Hospital, the Infanta Elena Regional Hospital and the Riotinto General Hospital. In one study, other Spanish hospitals were also included: Albacete University Hospital, Mar Hospital in Barcelona, Virgen de Valme University Hospital in Seville, Alcorcón Foundation Hospital in Madrid, General Yagüe University Hospital in Burgos, Torrecárdenas hospital complex in Almería, Jaén hospital complex, Joan XXIII Hospital in Tarragona, Insular University Hospital of Gran Canaria. To conclude, it's worth pointing out that the thread that ties this entire research together is innovation in cardiology. Contributing to the dissemination of these new drugs and techniques may represent a radical change in their quality and duration of life for the population with cardiovascular disease. Our research indicates that these new techniques are more effective and safer than traditional methods.